Technion researchers have developed an advanced biological computer

The various calculation results were expressed in the form of biological properties, such as the resistance of bacteria to different antibiotic substances

Scientists at the Technion have developed and implemented an advanced molecular calculating machine of the transducer type. The molecular computer is built entirely from biological molecules, such as DNA and proteins, which are able to introduce changes in genetic codes. This unprecedented device can perform sequential calculation, that is, use the output of one calculation process as a new input for further calculations.

Furthermore, the various calculation results were expressed in the form of biological properties, such as the resistance of bacteria to different antibiotic substances. The researchers demonstrated the ability of the transducer by dividing binary numbers by 3. In addition, they performed a subsequent calculation on one of the outputs. This research was carried out by Prof. Ehud Keenan, together with the post-docs Dr. Tamar Ratner and Dr. Ron Piren from the Shulich Faculty of Chemistry, and Dr. Natasha Jonuska from the Department of Mathematics at the University of South Florida. This research is published in the prestigious journal Chemistry & Biology belonging to the Cell publishing house.

"The growing interest in biomolecular computing devices does not stem from the hope that machines of this type will have an advantage over electronic computers in calculation speed or in the efficiency of performing normal computational tasks," explains Prof. Keenan. "The main advantages of these computing devices derive from other characteristics. As can be seen from this work and other projects carried out in our laboratories, these computational systems can communicate directly with biological systems and even with living beings. The direct interface between the two worlds is made possible thanks to the fact that all the components of the biomolecular computers, including hardware, software, input and output, are biological molecules that "talk" to each other logically in a chain of programmable chemical events. The input is a molecule, which undergoes programmed changes, according to predetermined rules (software). This is to create the molecular output, which can affect biological systems."

"Our results are of great significance because this is the first time that a transducer-type synthetic biomolecular calculating machine has been implemented in the laboratory, which is capable of sequential calculation and also produces calculation results, which are presented as a new biological feature. Although the transducer presented in this work was programmed to solve a specific problem, the approach as a whole allows for a variety of programming, which can be applied to solve other problems. In addition to the improved calculation power, the transducer offers other advantages, such as the ability to read and change genetic information, the miniaturization of the calculation devices to a molecular scale, and the ability to produce calculation results that have a direct impact on living beings. Applying the computational system to genetic material can not only test and identify specific sequences, but also modify and process the genetic code. This possibility may create interesting opportunities in the field of biotechnology, including genetic therapies."